The Architecture of a Bond
A Relationship in ATET is a formal, persistent Agreement between two or more agents to share a social and emotional bond. It is the culmination of a successful Courtship, a new Fact in the world that redefines the participants’ identities and obligations to one another.
Like any structure, a Relationship is only as strong as its foundation. The health, stability, and consequences of a bond are determined entirely by the Consent Integrity of the agreement that created it.
Forging a Relationship: The Agreement
A formal relationship is created through the [[Negotiate]] verb within the Social Arena. The proposing agent crafts a proposal package containing the specific Terms of the desired bond.
- Example Terms:
[Form Romantic Partnership][Enter Formal Marriage Contract](Often includes legal/economic terms)[Establish Polyamorous Union](Defines the structure of a multi-partner bond)[Pledge Lifelong Platonic Kinship](The “blood-brother” or platonic life-partner bond)
If all parties accept the terms, a new, persistent Relationship Agreement is created. The quality of this new bond is then immediately calculated.
The Ethical Engine: Consent Integrity
The Consent Integrity score, as detailed in Consent, is the soul of the Relationship system. It measures the degree to which all parties entered the agreement freely and willingly, and it dictates the very nature of the bond that is formed.
| Consent Integrity Score | Relationship Category | Description & Mechanical Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| +0.8 to +1.0 | Enthusiastic Bond | A truly mutual, desired union. Consequences: Creates a powerful [Bond of Trust]. The relationship is tagged [Resilient] and grants both partners a recurring Satisfaction buff when together. Generates high-value [Joy] and [Intimacy] Eidos. |
| +0.2 to +0.8 | Willing Bond | A standard, healthy relationship built on mutual respect. Consequences: A stable relationship that provides consistent social support. |
| -0.2 to +0.2 | Transactional Bond | A neutral, often reluctant union of convenience (e.g., a political marriage). Consequences: The relationship is functional but lacks emotional depth. It will last only as long as it is mutually beneficial. Generates neutral [Pragmatism] Eidos. |
| -0.8 to -0.2 | Coerced Bond | A relationship formed under duress, threat, or desperation. Consequences: Creates a powerful [Bond of Resentment]. The relationship is tagged [Brittle] and the coerced partner will actively seek to sabotage it or escape. The bond inflicts a constant Stress debuff on the coerced partner. Generates powerful [Resentment] Eidos. |
| -1.0 | Violated Bond | This state cannot be created through the Social Arena. It is the result of enslavement or other acts of Violence. It is not a relationship; it is a state of captivity that creates a permanent [Enemy] status and deep [Trauma]. |
By making the quality of consent the central mechanic, the system allows for the emergent creation of a vast spectrum of relationships, from beautiful, supportive partnerships to tragic, toxic entanglements, all driven by the choices and internal states of the agents themselves.